Stories

Tue, 04 Aug 2026

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 Horror bookshop in fight to stay open amid cost rises

A drop in customers caused by the recent heatwave has increased financial pressures for the owner.

* Independent bookshop "The Haunted Bookshop" in Bristol faces closure due to a drop in footfall and cost-of-living pressures.
* Owner Monika Killer says the business has fallen behind on essential bills and is now "impossible to manage alone".
* A crowd fundraiser has raised over £7,500 towards rescuing the shop, with more than 450 supporters pledging money.
* Customers and staff describe the bookshop as a community hub where people can connect and find friendship and acceptance.
* The bookshop provides a support network for local artists and small businesses, and Killer says it's "a place where people who often feel like they don't belong can find home".
* Regular customers have spoken out about how the shop has made a positive impact on their lives.